The AFP is marking the successful conclusion of Operation Australis25, delivering protective security measures for all Parliamentarians and candidates in the 2025 Federal Election, including the mitigation of threats and incident response.
More than 600 AFP members contributed their specialised capabilities during the operation, which ran from 28 March to 3 May, to protect the safety of all candidates running for the House and Senate, from the Prime Minister to independents.
AFP officers maintained round-the-clock operational coordination of capabilities including intelligence, protection assessments, covert and specialist operations, investigations and close personal protection - responding rapidly to emerging threats as candidates interacted with the public.
AFP Commander Protection Operations Mark McIntyre said Operation Australis was a testament to the AFP's unwavering commitment to safeguard Parliamentarians and democracy; and reinforced the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts during a time of national significance.
"Our members committed more than 43,000 hours in supporting the AFP response to the Federal Election," Commander McIntyre said.
"This included protection of high office holders, mitigating active and emerging threats, investigating election-specific criminal complaints and in partnerships with our state and territory police partners, responded to incidents to ensure Parliamentarians and candidates could perform their duties free from intimidation, violence and harm.
"A significant number of members from AFP's Specialist Protective Command were deployed around the country to deliver intelligence-led protective security overlays, addressing threat, risk and vulnerability, to ensure protection and safety for public officials.
"Operation Australis was a highly coordinated effort from multiple fronts of the agency, from intelligence, covert services and investigation teams to close protection and parliamentary liaison members, all working diligently and successfully together."
Over the past five weeks, the AFP received 51 reports relating to a range of alleged offences, including threatening in-person or online communications targeting Parliamentarians. *
To date, four other individuals have been charged with state-based election related offences.
A number of investigations are ongoing which may lead to further individuals being charged with applicable offences.
Outside of Operation Australis25, a Ballarat man was charged in April, 2025, after allegedly sending threatening emails to a Parliamentarian's electoral office on 27 March, 2025.
Commander McIntyre said the election campaign was a significant but rewarding challenge for the AFP and policing partners dedicated to assessing, mitigating and eliminating security risks real-time.
"The AFP worked closely with other Commonwealth agencies and state and territory police partners to apply security measures at a significant number of community-based events around the country to ensure all Parliamentarians, candidates and members of the public attending such events were safe," Commander McIntyre said.
"Any threat or risk reported to the AFP throughout the election period was mitigated and there was no significant incident or criminal conduct that compromised the integrity of the election.
"Our officers play a critical role in protecting Parliamentarians, and I would like to thank them for their unwavering dedication to upholding the principles of democracy and maintaining public safety all year round but especially during the campaign period and election. "The AFP takes seriously reports regarding the safety and security of Federal Parliamentarians and it is a criminal offence to target them with online or physical threats of harm or violence."
The criminal offences of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill; or of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years and five years' imprisonment, respectively.
The Specialist Protection Command (SPC) consists of multiple highly trained and coordinated teams, including Close Personal Protection, Parliamentary Liaison, Protective Services and a range of other specialist resources such as Tactical Response, Canine Support, Bomb Response, and Maritime Operations.
*Key statistics between 28 March 2025 and 03 May 2025:
- 51 reports of crime evaluated by the Electoral Investigations Coordination Cell (EICC) for investigative triage resulting in 10 AFP investigations. To date four individuals have been charged with state-based election related offences.
- 28 matters finalised.
- 15 criminal complaints either initiated by external agencies or referred for investigation.
- Six investigations remain ongoing.
- Two reports remain subject of ongoing evaluation.
A number of matters are still subject of ongoing police enquiries.
